How to Fix the Broken College Sports System

“Being set up for life if you play your cards correctly?” Only 1.6% of college players make the NFL. 44 gators were on NFL rosters in 2023. Say we had 250 unique players over the last 5 years. That is 17.6% that made a roster. The average NFL career is 3.3 years and the median NFL salary is $860k (What is the average NFL player salary?). Thus, the average guy that makes a roster may walk with $3M total (less agent fees, taxes, etc). That is great and may set them for life, but in a pretty conservative life. (See the article explaining why median salary is much more accurate than average salary to understand NFL wages).

It is clear that players are exposed to a college education though anybody who has been near this process will openly say sports comes before academics or you are off the team. That is worth something. The experience and exposure are worth something. It was after billion dollar tv contracts, coaches paid tens of millions not to coach and schools getting millions of exposure that players asked - is this a fair bargain? Should i not be able to transfer schools (like my coach does)? Should I not be able to use my own name and image like every other student can? Should I not be able to get an outside job or be subject to different rules (drug tests, etc) than other students and get no compensation? Not to mention, should I risk my health with no health insurance?

If the schools had answered these questions equitably by providing health insurance, minimum income, and basically recognized the guys as employees, they could have avoided most of this (employers can limit employee behavior/outside employment). Or schools/ncaa could have rejected making CFB a for profit operation and enforced academic standards/amateurism. They chose to take the huge rising tide of money and control students. In a 9-0 decision (where do you ever see that?) the Supreme Court laughed in the face of the NCAA. Question wasn’t even close.

 

Add the NCAA has zero anti trust protection, so more of their rules will be falling soon (transfer rules)

 

Then schools should sue the player for all money they earn to pay back that scholarship they were awarded, including all fees, room and board, everything. And if that player is from out-of-state, they pay out-of-state prices. I'd even open it up so other players who might have receive that scholarship can sue that player.

 

Why? A scholarship is for one year. Really it is for one season. If the player remains academically eligible and plays the one season, he has satisfied the scholarship and should be able to seek another one.

 

Good luck with the negative recruiting you would have to deal with after that.

 

The combination of NIL, the portal, and other changes has caused me to question my passion and interest in college football. We’ve been season ticket holders for 35 years and I am not sure we will renew this time around. It’s really got me depressed and I may need to increase my commitment to other interests and pursuits.

 

Seeing all these opted out players at the games is ridiculous. If I was playing in a bowl game and the guys that opted out were on the sidelines I’d be pissed. You bailed on the team, get the hell out of here.

 

As a fan I can agree they shouldn't be there. But as a player, that guy who opted out just gave you a chance of meaningful playing time. So you're glad he opted out.

 

I didn't read "being set up for life" as becoming NFL rich. Rather that every player who graduates is playing the rest of their life on easy mode. Still not sure what you want to do when your playing days are over? Pretty much any high school in the state will give you a shot at coaching. Do you know what you want to do after your playing days are over? A whole lot of doors will be opening for you that wouldn't be open if you hadn't played for the team.

 

What exactly do you mean by power brokers? And who are they?

 

My initial answer? It’s the only way I ever knew it. Was it wrong in your opinion when cfb had the sit out rule after transferring? What about high school? Should kids get to pick their teams as well? Maybe some of us old timers look at it wrong by choosing a school and an education. Now nothing really matters but some rich old dudes behind the scenes. (Or in front in Miami). These kids are now paid, what’s the problem with them signing a non-compete?

and what really are the terms of a scholarship? Have the school bend over backwards with tutors and basic classes to remain eligible? Or should these athletes be subject to the same entrance qualifications as other students?

sorry, I certainly rambled

 

You and I have very different visions of “playing life on easy mode” as trying to make do as a high school coach is not that to me.

Some former Gator players on this site. Love to hear their thoughts about your perception that they are “living in easy mode” because they played at UF (without nfl for the vast majority of them)? Guessing they’d disagree?

 

Nothing to be sorry about, it all just discussion.

First take HS off the table. That's a different animal.
I have always thought the old transfer rules were trash and were skewed to favor the school.
The money is not coming from the school, it's a 3rd party, so any non compete should come from them.

People seem to forget that it's the university begging the players to come play for them, not the other way around.
So lowering of admissions, perks and benefits are enrichments to get them on campus. The schools do it voluntarily to complete.

The players are just taking what is being thrown at them. By boosters in the form of money. By the universities in the form perks and facilities.
Everyone wants their talent at their school so the fans can brag and the school cash in.

 

The old Enterprise rental car company ads about the athletes not going pro come to mind.

 

Start with transparency.... every NIL deal is public. Won't happen, but wishful thinking. Common sense, performance based. Cut the players in on this TV money. Or atleast a slice of the bowl proceedings. Complaints about the portal... loyalty incentives. The era of college football I grew up with is over.... Time for business

 

All those things would have to come from the university directly. And the players would still be able to collect NIL money unless you sign them to exclusively represent you. And that would cost a lot.

 

I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s all a farce. We all know nil is a joke, so how do you regulate it if you don’t enforce it?

I don’t really know who is begging players to come. I know UF might bend, but we have seen many times they don’t beg. But I agree they bend.

I do believe it’s awful that the powers that be allow these athletes to do this. The idea that some millionaires control cfb is sad to me. I’ll pay attention, but it doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. At least the nfl has rules.